Detachable closure for barrels.



SIMEON J. SIKES, OF EHREN, FLORIDA.

DETACHABLE CLOSURE FOI? BARRELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed September 8, 1904. Serial No. 223,769.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMEON J. SIKEs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ehren, in the county of Pasco and State of Florida, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Detachable Closures for Barrels,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to barrel heads and fastenings, and has for itsobject the provision of a detachable head especially adapted for use asa closure for crude-turpentine barrels to take the place of one of theprimary heads thereof, but which is also applicable to barrels intendedto hold other liquids and various kinds of merchandise to enable desiredquantities of the contents thereof to be conveniently removed at will,the head being so constructed as to utilize the chime of the barrel asan element of the fastening forholding it in place and so as to presentno interference to the free rolling of the barrel from place to place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening which is freefrom undulyprojecting. elements, which are liable to be broken orinjured when the barrel is rolled.

IVith these and other objects in view the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of aportion of a barrel equipped with my improved detachable head andfastening', and Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same.

The numeral l in the drawings represents a barrel of any ordinaryconstruction, the same being provided at each end with the usual chimeor groove 2 to receive the edge of a head or closure and an encirclingband or hook 3,

which holds the ends of the staves of the barrel-body against outwarddisplacement and prevents the head or closure from becoming loosened andallowing escape of the contents of the barrel or injury to the barrel orits head when the barrel is handled.

Heretofore it has been customaryin various arts or trades to remove oneof 'the heads of a barrel and substitute therefor a readily-detachablehead which may be conveniently removed when it is desired to take fromthe barrel a portion of its contents. These detachable heads have beenof various constructions and have embodied various types of lockingmeans, but, so far as I am aware, have obviates these objections andprovides a fastening which utilizes the chime of the barrel as aretaining element and in which the parts are so arranged that the freerolling of the barrel is not interfered with and all liability of injuryto the fastening when the barrel is rolled or otherwise handled isentirely prevented.

In carrying my invention into practice I provide a holding-frame in theform of a ring or annulus 4, preferably of metal and provided at itslower edge with an outwardly-projecting flange or bead 5. which isadapted to be inserted into the chime or groove 2 to retain the saidring or annulus in place within the end of the barrel. In applying thisholdingframe the primary head of the barrel is first removed, which isaccomplished by slipping off ,the hoop 3, so as to allow the ends of thestaves of the body of the barrel to spread sufliciently to permit thehead to be detached, and then the frame4; is inserted in position andthe hoop 3 again applied to encompass the ends of the staves and bringthe flange 5 into locking engagement with the chime 2 in a mannerreadily understood. The frame t is of such height or depth as toproject, when so fitted in the barrel, above the end of the barrel andhas its inner surface gradually flaring outwardly and downwardly, so asto conform to the flare of the ends of the staves, and thus permit ofthe contents of the barrel being discharged without interference whenthe barrel is tilted or dumped. The upper surface of the frame or ringLlforms a seat to support a detachable head 6, which closes the end ofthe barrel, the head being preferably provided with a rim-flange 7 torest upon said seat and to form a shoulder 8, which engages the innerwall of the frame or rim and prevents sidewise shifting of the headaswell as effecting a comparatively tight closure.

Carried by the head 6 is a locking-bar 9 of su fcient length to extenddiametrically across IOO IIO

and project at opposite ends beyond the same, and this bar 9 is rigidlyfastened to the head by bolts 10 passing through the bar and head. Theends of the bar terminate vin locking devices, which appear in thepresent instance in the form of hooks 11, each hook 11 comprising ashank 12, bent at such an angle as tolie flush with the hoop 3, and anupwardly-projecting bill or terminal 13, which is adapted to lie aboveor in the plane of the ends of the staves of the barrel-body, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2. These hooks 11 coact with lugs or bosses 14, formed onthe outer surface of the frame 2 to hold the head 6 in place, said lugsor bosses being disposed diametrically opposite one another and providedwith outer inclined sides 15 and lower or underlying camsurfaces 16,said sides 15 being engaged by the Shanks 12 of the hooks and thecam-surfaces 16 by the bills or inwardly-extending terminal projectionsof the hooks, the relative arrangement of these parts being such thatwhen the head 6 is applied in position and locked, as shown in thedrawings, the hooks and bosses will lie wholly in the plane of the outersurface of the barrel, so as not to interfere with the free rolling ofthe barrel and so as to prevent the same from being broken or injuredwhen the barrel is rolled. It will be seen that when the bar 9 is swungin one direction the hooks will engage the camsurfaces 16 and be drawndownward thereby to clamp the head 6 in place, While a reverse movementof the bar will disengage the hooks and permit the head to be released.In order to permit the bar 9 to be easily operated, handles orfinger-pieces 17 are formed or provided thereon and located uponopposite sides of the pivot 10, so as to allow the bar to beconveniently manipulated.

When it is desired to remove the contents of the barrel or any portionthereof, it will be seen that it is simply necessary to swing thelocking-bar to disengage the hooks from the lugs, when the head 6 may belifted o or detached, after which the end ofthe barrel will be left openfor ready removal of its contents. When it is desired to close thebarrel again, the head 6 is placed in position and the bar 9 swung inthe reverse direction to bring the hooks into engagement with the camlugs or bosses, whereupon the head will again be clamped in position toform an eective closure. A gasket or packing of any approvedconstruction may be used to make the closure liquid-tight when thecontents of the vessel are of a liquid character.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of theinvention will be readily understood, and it will be seen that a barrelcover or closure is provided which is simple of construction, readilyapplied and removed, which is adapted to utilize the chime of the barrelas a part of the fastening means, thus obviating the necessity ofemploying complicated fastenings, and which is susceptible of generaluse in its application to barrels designed to contain liquids or variouskinds of merchandise to enable desired quantities of thel same to beremoved at will.

Changes in the form, proportions, and minor details'of construction maybe made within the scope of the invention without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Thecombination with a barrel or like container having aflaring end and achime-groove formed therein, of a ring adapted to lit within the Haringend and formed with a iiange to engage the groove, the inner wall ofsaid ring being flared to form a continuation of the flare of the wallof the barrel, a detachable closure for the ring, and means for securingsaid closure thereto, substantially as described.

2. A barrel-closure comprising a ring provided at itsinner end with aflange to t within and seal the chime-groove of the barrel, said ringbeing of greater depth than the distance between the groove and end ofthe barrel to project beyond the barrel, the projecting portion beingprovided with an outer seat-face and locking members, the latter beingarranged to lie within the plane of the outersurface of the end of thebarrel, a head closing the ring and resting upon said seat-support, andlocking members upon the head, said locking members being adapted toengage the locking members on the ring beyond the end of the barrel andsubstantially in the plane of the outer surface thereof, substantiallyas described.

3. A closure for barrels comprising a ring adapted to iit partiallywithin and project partially beyond the end of the barrel, said ringbeing provided at its inner end with a flange to fit within and seal thechime-groove of the barrel and at its outer end with a seat-face, theouter or projecting portion also being formed with peripheral lugshaving beveled outer or side faces conforming to the flare of the outersurface of the end of the barrel and inclined or cam under surfaceslying in the plane of the barrel edge, a head closing the ring andresting upon said seat-support, hooked fastening elements upon the headto engage camfaces of the lugs, the body portions of said fasteningelements being obliquely arranged to engage the beveled side faces ofthe lugs f adapted to fit partially within and project par- ISO IOO IIO

tially beyond the end of a barrel, said ring gage said lugs todetaobably secure the head IO being provided at its inner end with aninteto the ring, substantially as described.

gral ange to t within and seal the chime- In testimony whereof I aix mysignature in groovte ofltlhe barel and atlits uter end With presence oftwo Witnesses.

per1p era ugs avingmc me or cam surfaces, a head supported by the ring,and a. v SIMEON J' SIKES' cross-bar Connected to the head and providedWitnesses:

with turning devices and hooked terminals C. C. HINES,

said hooked terminals being adapted to en- H. DITTMAN.

